Sunday, February 16, 2014

#919: Betty Martini


A.k.a. Nancy Markle

If one person is to be named as being responsible for the aspartame scare, Betty Martini would probably  be that person. Despite the overwhelming evidence that aspartame is safe in doses far exceeding what a normal human would be able to consume, activists such as Martini have tried to push the idea, undocumented in the medical literature, that numerous health risks (multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, methanol toxicity, blindness, spasms, shooting pains, seizures, headaches, depression, anxiety, memory loss, birth defects and death) are associated with the consumption of aspartame in normal doses. The idea has become a canonical example of an unfounded Internet health scare.

Martini is the founder of Mission Possible World Health International, which is “committed to removing the deadly chemical aspartame from our food.” She is also anti-vaccine, anti-fluoride, anti-MSG, a conspiracy theorist, and thinks she was once cured of breast cancer by an herbal formula.

Martini has of course no expertise in any relevant field. She refers to herself as “Dr. Martini”, but this is based on an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree awarded by an unaccredited religious institution. Her claims have nevertheless been widely distributed, partly on the basis of an infamous chain e-mail, which claims that the FDA approval process of aspartame was tainted and that there is a conspiracy between the FDA and the producers of aspartam. The claims are allegedly based on a supposed talk by expert Nancy Markle at a recent “World Environmental Conference.” Someone doing a bit of research would have noticed that the email was largely identical to messages posted by Martini to Usenet newsgroups in late 1995 and early 1996 about her, Martini’s, alleged talk at a “World Environmental Conference.” The Conference is, of course, fictional, and the existence of Markle (independently of Martini) has, to put it diplomatically, not been confirmed.

The fact that most of the allegations contained in this theory contradict the bulk of medical evidence, reality, and reason, is the kind of detail that has never stopped a good conspiracy theory, and Martini’s misinformation continues to reemerge 15 years after the e-mail was originally distributed. On the other hand, the aspartame hoax has become a canonical example of an internet conspiracy circulated on a number of Internet conspiracy theory and urban legend websites (e.g. here). For instance, the dissemination of the “Nancy Markle” letter was considered so notable that the Media Awareness Network featured one version of it in a tutorial on how to determine the credibility of a web page .

Diagnosis: Deluded conspiracy theorist whose ideas may have caused quite a bit of harm, but whose efforts may, in the long run, also have contributed to greater awareness of misinformation on the internet (though that hypothesis may be way too optimistic)

18 comments:

  1. I almost forgot to mention two particularly crazy loonies.

    Mychal Massie, WND correspondent with a talent for writing stunningly deranged and incoherent screeds.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bob Marshal, Wingnut candidate from South Carolina
    Molotov Mitchell of WorldNetDaily for compartng the Uganda anti-gay laws to the Civil Rights movement, as well being incredibly misogynistic.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We actually did Bob in round 1 (even though he was less famous then). The others, though, are good candidates.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Do you really believe aspartame info is not real when almost 100% of independent scientific peer reviewed research shows the problems. Check it out on www.mpwhi.com and while you're at it read the medical text, over 1000 pages, Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic by H. J. Roberts, M.D., www.sunsentpress.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By “independent scientific peer reviewed research” do you mean “independent of scientific method?”

      No, Betty, it’s not that we don’t believe in science or the scientific method. It’s simply that we don’t believe you.

      Delete
    2. PS: Here is my invitation to speak for the World Environmental Conference and a letter thanking me for speaking.

      https://flic.kr/s/aHsmuL7ukx

      Delete
  5. https://www.opednews.com/articles/Smithsonian-Magazine-Buste-by-Dr-Betty-Martini-Ajinomoto_Aspartame-Carcinogen_Aspartame-Causing-Birth-Defects_Brain-Tumors-Caused-By-Ajinomoto-Aspartame-170831-353.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dr. Martini looks like a marionette in drag. Those photos will forever be burned into my brain

    ReplyDelete
  7. https://rense.com/general96/fda-refuses-petition-to-ban-aspartame.php History of the political chicanery of Don Rumsdfeld pushing approval of aspartame after the Board of Inquiry of the FDA had revoked the petition. My web site, www.mpwhi.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aspartame is indeed linked to cancer in large scale HUMAN trials and the mechanism is known. It's converted to formaldehyde in the liver by the same enzymes that break down alcohol. Men have greater risk because they have more enzyme activity, the same reason men can drink more than women.

    https://nutritionfacts.org/video/does-aspartame-cause-cancer/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob can you give the complete metabolic pathway you wrote about? I would be very interested in knowing this Thanks

      Delete
  9. In this article note the FDA admitted it caused cancer and was on the market illegally because it violated the Delaney clause which states you can't put something that causes cancer in foods. FDA scientist Dr. Adrian Gross mentions the FDA violated the law. https://thenhf.com/hfn-magazine/health-freedom-news-magazine-articles/health-freedom-news-articles-2005-present/no-safe-dose-of-aspartame/

    Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, www.mpwhi.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum
      I became reacquainted with your work this morning based on a letter you published as it was forwarded to me for review and participation.

      Two questions;
      Who awarded your Honorary Doctor of Humanity and when?

      In the email letter you pushed out yesterday, "From: Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum.
      Date: Fri, Dec 11, 2020 at 11:11 PM
      Subject: "CNN: Don't Be Alarmed If People start Dying After Taking the Covid Vaccine", It's From Something Else"

      You made the statement - …"Don't forget Agenda 21 to depopulate and control the people which is so obvious its constantly written about. Bill Gates father who was the founder of Planned Parenthood was also for depopulation. …"

      Margaret Higgins Sanger (Slee) has been cited as the "Founder" of what is now known as Planned Parenthood in 1921.

      Bill Gates Sr was born 11/30/1925. Please cite references to include Bill Gates Sr. as a founder. It is easily identified that during his career he sat on the Board of Planned Parenthood in NW Washington (King County). The best history I can identity is that the timeframe was prior to Rowe V. Wade, but that was only one reference.

      I appreciate your support of Bill Barr. I am perplexed why you would say what you said about Bill Gates, Sr without citation. I am equally perplexed why you use an Honorary title and no citation of when and what Institution awarded you the Honor.

      Best regards,

      Delete
  10. You need to open your mind. You want to know who the real loon is, look in the mirror. Aspartame is TOXIC!

    ReplyDelete
  11. It is now August, 2020, and this malignant excuse for a human being is publishing what she purports to be a home recipe for hydroxychloroquine. So not only is she promoting an utterly useless medicine in the face of a world wide pandemic, but she is encouraging people to make it themselves, with a recipe which I will not, for obvious reasons, repeat here, but is as lunatic as anything else she has ever said.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've seen this same recipe from other sources as well, naturalpaths not bought and paid for bureaucrat's...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Screw everyone out there who is against this Dr Martini she has not harm anyone but yet the FDA Has by pushing big pharma poisons onto the public and killing many because of the money they get paid to approve there shit.

    ReplyDelete
  14. "Dr." Martini is still pushing quack ideas. A woman followed her "recipe" for a Covid cure (boiled citrus fruit peels) and of course it didn't save her: https://www.sorryantivaxxer.com/post/lisa-sowards-56-hickory-nc-anti-vaxxer-her-her-mother-and-daughter-all-got-covid-she-died :-(

    ReplyDelete